Matt Schickling, the Wire
Neshaminy School District Superintendent Robert Copeland announced his resignation in a statement this morning.
“It is with mixed emotions that I inform you that I have been offered and I have accepted the position of Superintendent of Lower Merion School District,” his statement began.
According to Neshaminy School Board Director Stephen Pirritano, Council Rock, Centennial and Lower Merion school districts had all reached out to Copeland over the last couple of months to fill superintendent vacancies.
“If we could have kept Bob Copeland, we would have kept Bob Copeland,” Pirritano said. “If Lower Merion comes knocking at your door, you’d be a fool not to answer — it’s the dream job in Southeastern PA.”
According to a statement from Neshaminy, the administration and staff were informed of Copeland’s decision Tuesday morning and the change will not interrupt day-to-day operations.
“We’ve been hearing rumblings about this all week and they’ve been getting louder and louder,” Neshaminy Board Member Ron Rudy said. “This is not something that’s been negotiated, at least with the full board.”
Copeland was hired in 2012 and is currently contracted until 2017. According to representatives from the district, his resignation will take effect July 1 pending board approval, and an interim replacement will be sought until the position is filled on a more permanent basis. There is no indication who the temporary replacement will be.
Under his contract with Neshaminy, Copeland earns a $171,000 salary. Pirritano said he is expected to receive a “substantial increase” from Lower Merion, a more affluent district.
“Over the last, almost three years, together we have accomplished much. We now have a full-day kindergarten program, expanded rigorous programs at Neshaminy High School, enriched the language arts program at the middle level and increased student achievement,” Copeland wrote. “Next year Neshaminy will be one of the few local districts to have a one to one iPad program in both fifth and sixth grades. These are accomplishments that are yours.”
Copeland will officially be appointed and introduced to Lower Merion during a May 18 Board of School Directors meeting and there will be opportunities for parents and children of the district to meet Copeland throughout the summer.
“Mr. Copeland is a highly-accomplished, nationally-recognized school leader who brings a wealth of skills and experience that will serve him well in Lower Merion,” Dr. Robin Vann Lynch, President of the LMSD Board of School Directors, said in a statement. “He will provide strong and capable leadership during a time of increasing challenges in public education.”
Copeland leaves Neshaminy in the midst of a major consolidation effort, which will close several area elementary schools, build an 800-student “mega school” in Lower Southampton and move fifth-graders from elementary schools to middle schools.
The issue has been hotly contested in the community, resulting in some disapproval of the plan, especially the recent closure of Samuel Everitt Elementary School in Levittown.
“I think the issues here certainly have something to do with it,” Rudy, who opposes much of the consolidation plan, said. “I think he knows this is going to be a contentious issue for a long time.”
According to Pirritano, this is the first district that Copeland engaged with, despite several others reaching out. The resignation is not expected to affect the consolidation plan.
“Of course it will present a bump in the road but it won’t prevent us from carrying through with our planned projects,” Pirritano added.
Copeland previously served as assistant superintendent in both Teaneck and Newark school districts in New Jersey. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the State University of New York, a master’s degree from Rider University and is all but dissertation at Seton Hall University. He lives in Trenton with his wife, Kathleen, and their two children.
“I think this reinforces that we made the right decision when we hired him the first time,” Pirritano said. “We knew he was someone that does his very best for a school district.”
